Step Away

I need to step away from the matching bag for the bible cover.

It feels a little big to me. Not sure if I just need to cut a good 7 inches off the width or put some pleats around the top to make it smaller. I need to step away for a little while before I go crazy with the scissors.

Bible Cover

A friend at work asked me to make her Mother a bible cover and bag for her birthday. The bible cover is finished.

Front of the cover.

 Her name embroidered on the other side
 
 Love the vintage button I got my from Grandmother's stash. And the purple pocket.

 Inside. She didn't give me the size so I guessed using my PHR certification book.

And a couple little pockets on the inside. Magnetic snap closure.

Pushing 70 degrees today. Off for a walk with Mason and then I will finish the bag to match the bible cover. Spicy turkey legs in the crockpot so I don't even have to worry about cooking today.

Procrastinating

I have been procrastinating starting the twins playhouse. 

I pulled some fabric out of my stash and found the perfect zippers to coordinate. Put together a couple small bags this morning. Nice to have enough selection in the stash I can sew without shopping first. I highly recommend checking your local craigslist for zippers. I have bought two lots of zippers from craigslist and have been quite pleased both times.  

I need to find a little project for the fat 1/8th heart fabrics I received from my swapbot partner. It doesn't really show in the photo but both have glitter on them. Just way too cute.

Wonder what else I can kill time with today instead of the twins playhouse?

Fishy Fish

I like trying new recipes, unfortunately the outcome is not always worth the effort. Every now and then I find one that will stay in my menu rotation. If you are looking for a healthier quick dinner alternative I found one for you. Check out this Oven Fried Tilapia recipe. (I omitted the thyme.) Next time I will add a bit more cajun seasoning to it to please Mason and David's taste buds. Otherwise it got thumbs up from both of them.

And in David's words... Tilapia is not "Fishy Fish".

On the shopping list this week...  More frozen tilapia filets.

If you have a seafood or fish recipe that you like I would love to have it.

Leopard Print Snack Bags

If you want a cleaner look, attach the velcro before you sew any seams.

The leopard print snack bags just needed that cleaner, sleeker look.

Snow is always short lived in Memphis. The 4-5 inches from Wednesday is almost gone. Temps pushing 60 day. Going to take my baby to the park for a walk. I should tell you my baby turns 19 years old next month. Guess I will let him drive to the park.

Camo Snack Bags

Reusable camo snack bags. Both layers are rip stop nylon. Camo on the outside and black on the inside. 

To create the french seam. With wrong sides together sew a 1/4 seam allowance.

Turn the bag inside out. Now with the right sides together sew a little bit wider seam allowance catching all the other seam within this seam. 

Turn the bag right side out and you are all done.  Clean seam on the inside and...

...the outside.

Camo is so not my family. These will be headed north to a new home.

Sandwhich Bags

There are many tutorials for reusable sandwhich bags on the internet. Just do a quick search and you can find on that works for you. Below is what works for me.

Start with one piece of cotton and a coordinating piece of rip stop nylon the same size. My sizes usually range between 5-7 inches wide 11-14 inches long. You can see above the owls have a seam in the middle to keep the images upright on each side. Rip stop is moisture resistent. It will not hold water like a ziploc but can be used for sandwhiches and dry foods.

 With right sides together, sew the shorter ends together with a 1/4 inch seam.

 

 Flip the fabric so right sides are out. Topstitch an 1/8th inch from the top of both seams.

Cut velcro 1 inch shorter than the width of the sandwhich bag and sew in place 1/4 inch from the top edge on each side of the bag.

With right sides together, fold the bag in half and serge the side seams. If you don't have a serger you can zigzag the seam or create a french seam for a more finished look.

Turn inside out and admire your work.

You can embelish with with ricrac or other accessories.

We have to label any food that goes into the refrigerator at the office. So I chose to put my name on one of the bags.

Snow Day

My normal 35-40 minute drive home from the office turned a 3 1/2 hour drive yesterday. Memphis just can't handle the snow. Needless to say I am working from home today. Working and sewing that is.

Another double sided flannel blanket. These make great car blankets. Not bulky and add a little extra warmth.

And for a little boy that is in the hopsital. I wish the fabric designers would make better fabrics for young boys. Another cool name Jakorri. Hope he likes it.  

On my to list for quite a while has been reusable snack/sandwich bags. Great replacement for ziploc bags.

Velcro closure. This one has red rip stop nylon fabric on the inside. It is moisture resistent. Should keep snacks fresh and clean up easily in the washing machine.

Distractions

I am doing my best to pretend I feel better. Sewing is a good distraction.

Took some of the flannel I bought at Christmas and backed it with some left over minky I had. Ended up about 40x54 inches. Nice lap size cover.

The blanket had been finished and stored in my stash. One of the guys I work with had his first grandson this week. I think the name Ticer is pretty darn cool. 

I was picking out zippers for a few little bags. The newer looking of the two zippers had a 1975 date on it. Such a shame no one used these in all those years. 

Here are a couple of the bags. Surprisingly I am keeping the larger one for me. Not sure what the deal is with all the brown fabrics lately. Not usually my style. Guess when it is paired with the brights I like it a bit more.